Politics / Turkey

Aytek Şayan's Journey in Acting and Fame

hurriyet • 2026-04-24T11:00:06Z

Source material: Aytek Şayan, the Sheriff of 'This Sea Will Overflow': "I can't bother with revenge" | Close Conversation

Open source

Summary

Aytek Şayan transitioned from veterinary studies to acting, leaving his program in the fourth year to pursue a career in theater. He discusses the challenges of defining his identity within the acting industry and the impact of social media on fame. Shayan emphasizes the significant role of university theater groups in shaping his identity and skills as an actor. He shares that his father initially had reservations about his career choice but became supportive after witnessing his performances. He describes his emotional volatility, noting his ability to rapidly transition from happiness to sadness, which he attributes to his personality. Shayan identifies a major injustice in the acting world as the lack of curiosity about the goals of younger generations. He calls for reforms in the acting education system, criticizing its focus on conventional methods instead of encouraging individual artistic expression. The conversation explores the psychological aspects of portraying villainous characters and the complexities of fame and social media in his life.

Perspectives

Analysis of Aytek Şayan's insights into acting and fame.

Aytek Şayan's Perspective

Advocates for reforms in acting education to support individual artistic expression
Emphasizes the importance of genuine connections over superficial relationships

Industry Challenges

Critiques the industrys narrow definitions of success and stereotypes surrounding leading male roles
Highlights the psychological toll of fame and societal expectations on actors

Neutral / Shared

Acknowledges the emotional challenges actors face, including jealousy and pressure
Reflects on the complexities of portraying villainous characters

Metrics

100%

importance of understanding his capabilities

This indicates his confidence in his skills as an actor

Of course, it was 100%. It was a very important thing.

Key entities

Companies

Hürriyet

Countries / Locations

Turkey

Themes

#acting_challenges • #acting_industry • #aytek_shayan • #theater_festival • #theater_life • #this_sea_will_overflow

Timeline highlights

00:00–05:00

Aytek Şayan, known for his role as Şerif in Taşacak Bu Deniz, transitioned from veterinary studies to acting, leaving his veterinary program in the fourth year to pursue theater
He discusses the struggle of defining his identity in the acting industry, particularly in relation to stereotypes surrounding leading male roles
Shayan provides insights into the psychology of portraying villainous characters and how he addresses his own darker impulses
The conversation explores the influence of social media on fame and personal life, along with the dynamics of his romantic relationships
He highlights the significance of authenticity in acting and advocates for reforms in acting education to better equip future actors

05:00–10:00

Aytek Şayan transitioned from veterinary studies to acting, emphasizing the role of university theater groups in his development. He discusses the psychological aspects of portraying villainous characters and the complexities of fame and social media.

Aytek Şayan transitioned from veterinary studies to acting, leaving his veterinary program in the fourth year to follow his passion for theater
He emphasizes the significant role of university theater groups in shaping his identity and skills as an actor
Shayan shares that his father initially had reservations about his career choice but became supportive after witnessing his performances
He describes himself as someone with big dreams and a serious approach to his work, while expressing a desire to be less critical of himself
The conversation explores the psychological aspects of portraying villainous characters and the complexities of fame and social media in his life

10:00–15:00

Aytek Şayan discusses his transition from veterinary studies to acting and the challenges he faces in defining his identity within the industry. He emphasizes the need for reforms in acting education to better support young actors' aspirations.

Aytek Şayan describes his emotional volatility, noting his ability to rapidly transition from happiness to sadness, which he attributes to his personality
Reflecting on his two-decade acting career, he emphasizes the need for the industry to take young actors seriously and to understand their aspirations
Shayan identifies a major injustice in the acting world as the lack of curiosity about the goals of younger generations, which he believes hinders creativity and growth
He calls for reforms in the acting education system, criticizing its focus on conventional methods instead of encouraging individual artistic expression
Shayan expresses skepticism about stereotypes associated with actors, particularly those portraying villains, arguing that such perceptions are often rooted in physical appearances and societal expectations

15:00–20:00

Aytek Şayan discusses his transition from veterinary studies to acting and the challenges of defining his identity in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of genuine connections and the limitations of social media in forming deep relationships.

Aytek Şayan discusses how societal expectations and stereotypes shape character selection and storytelling in the acting industry
He reflects on his appeal, attributing his popularity, especially among women, to his vibrant energy and charisma
Shayan emphasizes the significance of genuine connection in relationships, noting that misunderstandings can lead to dissatisfaction
He prefers to use social media sparingly, mainly for news and following artistic projects, while feeling pressure to engage more due to his role in a popular series
The actor believes that true emotional connections are challenging to form without physical presence, arguing that virtual interactions lack the depth of in-person relationships

20:00–25:00

Aytek Şayan discusses his successful transition from veterinary studies to acting, highlighting the psychological challenges and misconceptions surrounding the profession. He emphasizes the importance of financial stability and genuine connections in the industry.

Aytek Şayan considers this phase of his life one of the best, attributing it to his age and involvement in a successful project
He points out the economic difficulties actors face, stressing that financial stability is essential for a satisfying career in the industry
Shayan addresses the misconception of acting as a glamorous profession, revealing the significant psychological challenges and job security uncertainties that come with it
He is actively contributing to the theater community by organizing a short plays festival, which successfully drew 4,000 attendees and aimed to support underrepresented performance artists in Turkey
The festival showcased 16 plays and emphasized the need for innovative formats in theater to engage audiences

25:00–30:00

Aytek Şayan discusses his transition from veterinary studies to acting, emphasizing the psychological challenges and the importance of genuine connections in the industry. He reflects on the complexities of portraying a 'bad' character and the collaborative nature of character development.

Aytek Şayan reflects on his character Şerif from Taşacak Bu Deniz, questioning the authenticity of the characters extreme actions in the name of love, indicating a misunderstanding of true love
He discusses the complexities of portraying a bad character, highlighting the necessity of empathy and the psychological depth required to understand such roles
Shayan emphasizes the collaborative process of character development, explaining how his interactions with writers and directors influence his portrayal of Şerif
He acknowledges the emotional challenges actors encounter, including jealousy and the pressure to deliver performances that resonate with audiences
The conversation explores the significance of understanding the sociological and psychological factors behind a characters motivations for authentic storytelling